Together We Make a World of Difference

World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and its 35 members and associate members are making a world of difference in the lives of millions of people across the globe. World Council:

• Raises awareness of credit unions and financial cooperatives.
• Facilitates the global exchange of information and ideas.
• Lobbies internationally to improve legislation and regulation.
  

Raises Awareness

Provides statistics on the international credit union system through its annual Statistical Report as well as data on the tax status of credit unions in various nations through its annual Taxation Report.

• Publishes the bi-annual magazine, Credit Union World, which covers international trends and events affecting credit unions and financial organizations.
• Increases public awareness of credit unions through media relations and International Credit Union Day celebrations.
• Produces the eCommuniqué, an electronic newsletter distributed six times a year that covers World Council activities and events.
• Promotes international governance, operating and safety and soundness principles, which provide guidelines for operating credit unions.
• Publishes credit union best practices from around the world, making them available to members, credit unions, regulators and policy makers.
• Presents the philosophy behind credit unions, their structure, services and the effects of laws and regulations through the Credit Union Handbook, which also focuses on credit union operations, policies and how to start a credit union.
• Conducts research as requested by members and non-members on development issues, trends and information on not-for-profit financial cooperatives.

Facilitates Exchange

To help credit unions thrive in today's global economy, World Council hosts a variety of meetings and conferences:

• World Credit Union Conference is the largest international gathering of credit union people.
• International Partnership Program facilitates the exchange of knowledge, information and experiences between developing and developed credit union movements.
• Regulators' Roundtable is the exclusive forum for international regulators to meet, network and share best practices on credit union regulation.
• Regional Member Conferences (Africa Congress, Eastern European Technical Congress, Pacific Technical Congress and Latin American Members Regional Forum) are hosted annually in collaboration with member organizations and partners.
• International visits are coordinated between member organizations.

Lobbies Internationally

Due to globalization, more financial sector standards—from capital to money laundering to supervisory procedures—are being set at an international level and adapted to local conditions. To ensure that credit unions are represented from the outset of discussions, World Council works continuously with the following
organizations to influence global standards and regulation:

• United Nations (UN) - Has special observer status at the UN since 1978 and takes part in UN briefings
  and meetings.
• European Union (EU) - Coordinates lobbying activities before EU officials in Brussels for its European members.
• Bank for International Settlements (BIS) - Serves as a liaison on regulator practices and standards for credit unions.
• World Bank and International Monetary Fund - Provides financial, legislative and technical guidance to their organizations in the development of policies and programs.
• Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) - Serves on the CGAP executive committee as a financial
  cooperative expert.
• International Accounting Standards Board - Monitors standards and advocates for credit unions.
  

World Council also:

• Develops and regularly updates the Model Law for Credit Unions and the Guide to International Credit
  Union Legislation, which have been applied in several jurisdictions worldwide.
• Carries out legislative and regulatory consultation and advocacy visits.
• Provides members with best practice regulations and experience from numerous countries.